Owners of Sugar Lake Development, formerly known as Kokanee Lodge, have applied to build a 30-slip marina on Sugar Lake at the head of the middle Shuswap River. Since this river is the “last clean watershed at our latitude,” according to Claude Labine, chief scientific officer of Campbell Scientific, it is incumbent upon us to do all we can to protect it and it is well known that fast motor boats will have destructive impacts.
The Wisconsin DNR study shows that:
1) Motor boats add metals and chemicals to water.
2) A certain amount of the fuel entering the motor is discharged unburned and ends up in the water.
3) this affects the pH and dissolved oxygen in the lake which negatively affects fish, all aquatic species and wildlife.
4) motor boats can cause algae bloom by churning up the lake bottom in shallow areas, stirring up sediment, re-suspending nutrients (phosphorus) that are at the lake’s bottom feeding algae and causing algae bloom. This stirring can also decrease the water clarity because of additional particles suspended in the water column.
5) motor boats create substantial noise pollution known to harm all aquatic animals as well as humans and wildlife in the surrounding area
Freshwater organisms are among the most imperilled worldwide and are facing the largest decreases in biodiversity due to combined threats of development, climate change, and invasive species.
There are ample opportunities for the new owners to develop that property in a non-damaging way. More people want to visit this area because of its safe, clean surroundings and because it is one of the rare places where they can canoe, kayak, tube and swim in peace and quiet.
Turning the lodge into this kind of haven would be compatible with the community’s wishes while protecting its environment, building an economy that is sustainable.
There are already so many lakes for fast boats, making quiet recreation impossible, why should we ruin the few that are left?
There are two things you can do to help protect the lake and river:
Call RDNO at 550-3700 or e-mail sustainability@rdno.ca to say you would like them to limit motor sizes on Sugar Lake and the middle Shuswap River so fishing boats can use it but no fast motor boats
Call 1-800-663-7867 to say this is about file #3412953 or go to: http://arfd.gov.bc.ca/ApplicationPosting/viewpost.jsp?PostID=49900scroll to “end decisions” and click on “here” to say that you do not wish to see a marina on Sugar Lake.
Huguette Allen
Rural Lumby
